Garment supporting device



mentor Gttomeg March 5, 1935.

A. T. VAN ALSTYN VGARMENT SUPPORTING DEVICE Filed June 27. 1932 Patented Mar. 5, 1935 'Y "5 UNITED s STATES PATENT- OFFICE Y 1,993,044 y GARMENT SUPPORTING Y DEVICE Albert T. van Alstyn, Three Rivers, Mich. Application June 27, 1932, Serial No. 619,559 v15 claims. (o1. :a4- 246) This invention is a garment supporting device having a strap-engaging portion 26, and bearing of the type in which the fabric of ythe garment portions 27, said bearing portions being rotativeis engaged by suitably sustained clamping means. ly mounted in the bent over ears 13 of the frame, One of the objects of the invention is to proleaving twoy arms of the wire projecting toward -'5 vide a garment supporter of simple construction, each other. Said arms are provided withy return 5 equipped With a toggle-like garment-engaging debends at positions between the ears 13, to provide vice, so constructed and arranged that while the two curved resilient abutment members 28, which supporter is in use, a yieldable locking tension are normally in contact with each other. The Will be maintained upon the toggle member. A arms of the wire memberT diverge laterally further object is to provide a garment-engaging from the bends 28, so asffto provide portions 10 toggle device, consisting of an actuator member straddling'the end of clamp member T, the exand a clamp member, said actuator member havtremities 28 of said divergng pOItiOIlS being bent ing frictionmeans for creating a yieldable lockinwardly and extended into the ends of the bearing ytension upon the toggle device while engaged ing sleeve 21, and thereby provide a pivotal conwith a garment. A further object is to provide nection between the members T and T'.r By l5v a toggle member of the character described with means of this arrangement the member T', which simple means by which it may be readily moved may be` termed the actuator member will pivot to locked or unlocked position, as may be dein the sleeves 13, and the two members T and sired. v T will pivot with respect to each other, by means 2O The invention will be hereinafter fully set forth of the sleeve 21 and bent'extremities 29, the 20 and particularly pointed out in the claims. clamp member T being retained in Sldable en- In the accompanying drawing: gagement with the frame by means of the lugs Figure 1 is aview in front elevation illustrat- 20 travelling in grooves 14. ing a garment ksupporter constructed in accord- In the form illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, a

ance with the invention. Figure 2 is an enlarged flexible strip 30 is provided, said strip carrying 25 longitudinal sectional View on the line 2 2, Figa post or stud 31 at one end, the other end beure 1. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the suping removably inserted in those end portions of porting frame, viewed from the rear. Figure the channels 13 which lie adjacent to the cross 4 is a perspective view illustrating the toggle debar 12. In order'that ample frictional surface vice, viewed from the rear. Figures 5 and 6 are to engage said strip may be provided a bar 32r 30 front and longitudinal sectional views illustratis extended across the rear side of the frame, as ing a slight modiiication. 'Figure 7 is a front shown in Figure 3. If desired, the end portion of elevation illustrating another modication. strip 30 which engages thechannels 14 may be Referring to the drawing, F designates a metal provided with a metal tip 33. The strip 30 is of frame of approximately rectangular form, prosuch length as to hang freelyand permit the post 35 vided with a central opening bounded by two or stud .31 to be inserted through the opening spaced apart side bars 10, and connecting end in the frameFadjacent tothe cross bar 11, so that bars 11 and 12 respectively. The end bar 12 is it may be engaged by the free edge of the clamp provided with laterally spaced ears 13, preferably member T. It will be observed that the post formed by bending over the metal, las shown. or stud 31 is preferably of rectangular form, with 40 The side bars are preferably formed by bending overhanging edges 34, so that one edge may overthe metal so as to provide guides or channelsv 14, hang the cross bar 11` andthe other edgelmay the cross bar 11 being constructed to provide a overhang the free end of the clamp member T stop, as clearly illustrated in Figure 3. while the parts are in operative relation. (See Operative Within the opening in the frame F Figure 2.) 45 is member T of a toggle device, hereafter re- `The post or stud 3l is preferably made entirely ferred to as the clamp member, said member beof rubber or other resilient material which `'will ing formed of iiat metal and provided at one yield to extra pressure, and will prevent undue end with lateral projections 20 slidably engaging wear on the garment while in locked 'relation the guides or channels 14. The other end of thereto. In addition to the foregoing, suchastud 50 said clamp member is turned over to form an does not hurt the wearer while sitting thereon, ear 21 which is pivotally engaged by the other as frequentlyhappens with types oi metal posts member T of the toggle device. The last mencovered with rubber, now on the market. There tioned member T' is preferably formed of a sinbeing approximately no appreciable strain on the gle piece of spring Wire bent to provide a loop post 31, either during adjustment `or`while in 55 actual use, reenforcement thereof is not needed.

In practice, the garter G, or other suspending element is secured to the supporter by being looped around the strap-engaging portion 26 of actuator member T, in a manner well understood in the art. When it is desired to connect the device with a stocking or other garment, the operator inserts a finger beneath the frame F and presses the joint of the toggle member' outwardly until the parts pass thel dead center to the dotted line position, Figure 2. Due to the slidable engagement of the lugs with the channels 14, the eifect of this pivotal movement is to slide the free edge of the clamp member T longitudinally of the frame and away from the cross piece 11. As soon as the free edge of the member T moves t out of engagement with the stud 31, said stud may be withdrawn from the opening in the frame F. A portion of the garment to be supported is then engaged with the stud, and the stud-engaged portion of the fabric is passed through the opening in the frame F and temporarily held there by the operator. By then pressing the joint of Vthe toggle device rearwardly until it moves past the dead center position to the full line position, Figure 2, the member T is so adjusted that its free edge is brought into engagement with the stud-engaged fabric, the slidable movement of the clamp member being arrested when said edge presses the stud against the stop 15. It will be observed that the portion of member T between where it is pivotally connected with cross bar 12 and its pivotal connection with member T, plus the length of member T, plus the thickness of the stem of the post 3l is longer than the distance between cross bar 11 and the point at which thel member T is pivotally connected with cross bar 12. Therefore, when the toggle member assumes the full line position of Figure 2, the reaction resulting from the abutting of the edge of member T against the stud, causes a slight eX- pansion of the wire body of the member T,there by laterally moving the abutment members 28' toward each other, so that they will engage with a resilient pressure to provide ak yieldable tension which tends to hold the toggle members in said full line position of Figure 2, i. e. with the clamp member T rmly gripping the fabric between it and the post 3l. Thus, fabrics of different thicknesses may be used with equalized pressure or effectiveness. To disengage, the actuator member T should be operated so as to move the parts to the first mentioned dotted line position, whereupon the clamp member T will be withdrawn from engagement with the post 32.

If desired, the flexible strip 30 and the post or stud 32 may be dispensed with, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. In this form the frame F is somewhat shorterl than the frame F illustrated in the other figures, and the cross bar 11a is provided with a groove 15a therein, into which the free edge of the toggle member T is adapted to i'lt. In use, the garment or other article to be supported is inserted between and rmly gripped by the free edge of the clamp member T pressing into the grooved portion of the cross bar lla.

Referring to Figure 7, F2 designates an approximately rectangular frame, provided with the spaced apart side bars or guides 10a and an end bar 112, similar in construction to the previously described frame F.

Operatively mounted within frame F2 is the clamp member T2 of a toggle device, preferably of flat metal and provided near one end with pins or lugs 20a slidably engaging the guides 10a.

The other end of the clamp member T2 is turned over, as indicated at 21a to pivotally engage a loop-like toggle member TX. Said member TX is preferably constructed as an endless loop of spring wire formed with parallel arms 28a connected by arcuate end portions 292. One arm 28a is engaged by the turned over portion 21a and the other arm 28a is similarly engaged by a turned over portion 27a of the frame F2. Said arcuate portions are also bent inwardly as indicated at 29 to extend into the opening formed in the frame F2, so that the joint between members T2 and TX will lie within said opening while the parts are in locked position.

The frame F2 is provided in suitable manner with a strap-engaging loop L, which for purposes of illustration is shown pivotally connected to a pair of turned over portions 132 on the end of said frame, contiguous to the part 27a.

In practice, when it is desired to connect the device with a stocking or other garment, the operator places a nger beneath frame F2 and presses outwardly at the joint between members T2 and TX until the joint passes the dead center. The member T2 will thus be moved to unlocked position. The fabric is then engaged with the stud 3l and said stud inserted through the frame in a manner already described.v By then pressing the toggle joint in the reverse direction until the member T2 engages the stud, the joint will have passed the dead center, and in so doing the pressure upon the ends of the toggle members due to the resistance of stud 31, will force the arms 28a slightly toward each other, causing the curved portions 29a to maintain a resilient locking tension on the parts until moved to unlocked position to release said tension, through pressure applied at the rear. By this arrangement any direct longitudinal pull on the device by reason of the increase of the spring tension created by suchA pull, will tend to more firmly maintain the parts in locked* position.

The advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which it belongs. For instance, it will be noted that a simple, toggle-like member is employed to clamp the garment, and that the same is so arranged that the normal tension applied to the toggle device while in locked position, will be converted into a yieldable force normally acting to prevent a breaking of the toggle, and so will maintain the parts in locked position against accidental disengagement, without strain upon the fabric or the post. Yet,` when disengagement is desired, it may be readily accomplished by a very slight outward pressure applied to the toggle joint. Thus, the parts are easily manipulated and yet positively prevented from accidental disengagement` A further important advantage is that the actuator member may be readily constructed so as to inherently provide the desired locking tension upon the parts. Another advantage is that the device is of simple and inexpensive construction and not liable to readily get out of order or to become deranged and is free of sharp edges and protuberances which might wear fabrics or injure the -ilesh of the wearer.

Having thus explained the nature of the invention and described an operative manner of constructing and using the same, although without attempting to set forth all of the forms in which it may be made, or all of the forms of its use, what is claimed is'z- 1. In a garment holder, a frame having parallel guideways, a clamp member having one end slidably engaging said v'guideways, an 'actuator member pivotally connected to said frame, and means providing a direct pivotal engagement between said actuator member and the .other end of said clamp member in such manner as to provide a toggle device, said actuatorv member having means located betweenits .pivotal connectionswith the frame and the clamp member respectively for applying a resilient locking tension to the toggle device.

2. In a garment holder of the character described, a frame having an opening therein and guideways on the opposite sides of said opening, an actuator member pivotally connected to one end of said frame, a clamp member operable within said opening and having one end slidably engaging said guideways, means providing a direct pivotal engagement between the other end of the clamp member and the adjacent portion of the actuator memberin such manner as to provide a toggle device, and means for maintaining a yieldable locking tension on said toggle device.

3. In a garment holder of the character described, a frame having an opening therein, an actuator member pivotally connected to one end of said frame, a clamp member operable within said opening and having one end slidably engaging the frame, and means pivotally connecting the other end of the clamp member with the adjacent portion of the actuator member, so as to provide a toggle device, said actuator member having yieldable abutment portions for maintaining a locking tension on said toggle device.

4. In a garment holder of the character described, a frame having an opening therein, a clamp member operating within said opening and having one end slidably engaging said frame, an actuator member formed of spring wire having bent extremities pivotally connected with the other end of said clamp member, so as to provide a toggle device, means for pivotally connecting other portions of the said wire to said frame, said wire being bent to provide abutting curved portions so as to maintain a yieldable locking tension upon said toggle device.

5. In a garment holder of the character described, a frame having an opening therein, a clamp member operable within said opening and having one end slidably engaging said frame, an actuator pivotally connected with the other end of said clamp member, so as to provide a toggle device, and means pivotally connecting the actuator member to said frame, said actuator member having abutting curved resilient wire portions for maintaining a yieldable locking tension on said toggle device.

6. In a garment holder of the character described, a frame having an opening therein, and pivot ears at one end, an actuator member formed of spring wire bent to provide arms pivotally engaging said ears, said arms being bent further to provide curved yieldably engaging abutment members, a clamp member operable within said opening and having one end pivotally engaging the extremities of said wire actuator member, so as to provide a toggle device, the other end of said clamp member slidably engaging said frame, said curved abutment members acting to maintain a yieldable locking tension on said toggle device.

7. In a garment holder of the character described, a frame having an opening therein and bent over side portions providing guideways, a clamp member operable within said opening and having one end slidably engaging said guideways, an actuator member pivotally connected with the other end of said clamp member, so :as

to provide a. toggle device, means forpivotally connecting the actuator member to said frame, a iiexible strip having one end in engagement with the extremities of said guideways' and provided at theother end With-fa post adapted to Y extend through the opening in theframe.. y.

8. In agarment/iholder of the 'character described, a frame having anopening therein and side bars provided with guidewaysV oneither side ofsaid opening, a clamp member having one end slidably engaging vsaid guideways, an actuator member pivotally connected with the other end of the clampmember so asto provide a toggle device, means for pivotally connecting ,thelactuator member to the frame, a exible member' having ar metal, covered edge removably engaging said guideways, said flexible member being V.positioned to depend Ain a positiongopposite the opening in said frame, and a post carried by the other extremity of said ilexible member and adapted to pass through said opening.

9. In a garment holder of the character described, a frame having an opening therein, a clamp member operable within said opening and having one end slidably engaging said frame, an actuator member pivotally connected to the frame and also having an extension, the extremity of which is pivotally connected with the other end of the clamp member in such manner as to provide a toggle device, a exible member having one end attached to said frame, said flexible member being positioned to cover said opening, and a post attached to one face of said flexible member near the other end thereof, and adapted to extend through said opening, said post being of approximate rectangular form and provided with overhanging flanges adapted to respectively engage the free edge of the clamp member and the adjacent end of the frame.

10. In a garment holder, a frame having an 'opening therein provided with an end bar, a

clamping device consisting of two members pivotally connected at one end, means providing a slidable engagement between the frame and the other end of one member, means pivotally connecting the other member to the frame at a position between the ends thereof, a exible member connected at one end to the frame adjacent the pivotal connection of the last mentioned member and in such manner as to depend therefrom, and a post of solid resilient material having an integral `base flange attached to one face of said iiexible member near the other end thereof, the body portion of said post having overhanging flanges adapted to be brought into engagement with said end bar and the free edge of the slidably engaging member of the clamping device.

11. In a garment holder of the character described, a frame having parallel guideways, a clamp member having one end slidably engaging said guideways, and a second member pivotally connected to the clamp member and also having one end pivotally connected with said frame so as to provide a toggle device, said second member having resilient means between its pivotal connections with the frame and the rst member for applying a yieldable locking tension tosaid toggle device.

12. In a garment holder of the character described, a frame having parallel guideways, a clamp member having one end slidably engaging said guideways, and a second member formed of resilient wire having a portion pivotally connected tothe'c1amp1member'and another portion pivotally connected with said frame so as to provide a toggle device, said second member having resilient curved portions for applying a yieldable locking tension to said toggle device.

13. In a garment holder of the character described, a frame having an opening therein with parallel guideways on opposite sides of said opening, an end bar closing saidfopening at one end, a clamp member having one end slidably engaging said guideways, and as second member pivotally connected to the clamp member and also pivotally connected with saidframe so as to provide av toggle device, said second member having resilient portions for applying a yieldable locking tension to said toggle device.

f 14. In a. garment holder of the character described, a frame having parallel guideways, a clamp member having one end slidably engaging said guideways, a second member formed of an endless loop of resilient Wire having a portion pivotally connected to the clamp member, and another portion pivotally connected with said frame so as to provide a toggle device, the ends of said'second member being bowed to provide means for applying a yieldable locking tension to said toggle device.

15. In a garment holder, an open at metal frame having parallel sides constructed and arranged to provide guideways, a flat metal clamp member operable between said sides and having laterally projected guide members contiguous to one end and slidably engaging said guideways, a Wire member pivotally connected to said frame and having laterally projected extremities pivotally engaged with the other end of said clamp member in such manner as to provide a toggle device, and supporting means engaging said Wire member.

ALBERT T. VAN ALSTYN. 

